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MELBOURNE - Transtasman trainer Mike Moroney is looking forward to racing Jokers Wild on a firm track when the colt tackles today's Australian Guineas at Caulfield.
The chestnut son of Black Minnaloushe out of Rory's Jester mare Miss Rory has raced at group one level at his past
four starts for three second placings, two of them on dead ground and one on a slow track.
"This will be the first time he's struck a dry track. It's been wet in New Zealand," Moroney said.
A dual group one winner in New Zealand as a 2-year-old, Jokers Wild will be making his Australian debut today.
He has won twice at group two level this season, but Moroney is not sure how the Kiwi form will measure up against the likes of star filly Miss Finland, boom colt Haradasun and reigning Victoria Derby winner Efficient in the group one A$750,000 Guineas (1600m).
"It's a little bit hard to know but he's been racing very well and comes over at the top of his game."
Last year star Kiwi colt Darci Brahma was runner-up to Apache Cat in the Guineas.
Jokers Wild, who will be ridden by Steven Arnold, was a $21 chance with TAB Sportsbet behind Miss Finland, the $2.10 favourite, Haradasun at $2.80, Efficient at $6 and Casino Prince at $9.
"The others have been there and done that, but it will be juicy odds if he wins," Moroney said.
Jokers Wild will race in winkers and a tongue tie for the first time.
At his latest outing, Jokers Wild was runner-up to the in-form Sir Slick, in the group one Otaki-Maori Stakes (1600m) on February 24.
At his previous start he was having his first run in 10 weeks when sixth to the now retired Darci Brahma in the Waikato Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 10.
Moroney said he would wait to see how Jokers Wild performed today before deciding where else his autumn campaign would take him.
"We'll have to weigh up whether to go to Sydney," Moroney said. "He's in the Doncaster, or he could go to Adelaide for the Goodwood."
Haradasun, who was found to be lame in the off foreleg after going down to Catechuchu as an odds-on favourite in the Schweppervescence Cup (1400m) at Caulfield last month, will race with glue-on shoes on for the first time in the Guineas which will be his first test at 1600m.
Miss Finland will be attempting to become only the second filly to win the Guineas, first held in 1986, with Triscay (1991) the only one of her sex to achieve the feat to date.
A three-time group one winner, Miss Finland impressed with her last start win in the group two Angus Armanasco Stakes (1600m), encouraging trainer David Hayes to take on the colts and geldings in the Guineas.
- AAP